title: [Interferon-alpha and hepatitis C virus: the skin matters].
abstract: Chronic hepatitis C virus infection (HCV) is classically associated with such dermatologic conditions as mixed cryoglobulinemia (MC), porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT) and lichen planus. This review focuses on the response of these entities to interferon alpha (IFN) therapy, which has an immunomodulatory activity and may modify their course. The presence of certain HCV-associated dermatologic disorders, as PCT, may predict the patients virological response to IFN therapy. On the other hand, the course of some dermatologic disorders, as MC, during treatment with IFN, may be an early indicator of virologic response. In any case, physicians should know how to handle the most common dermatologic side effects of IFN, which may affect the quality of life of patients, complicating the adherence to treatment.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Dermatología, Hospital Universitario La Paz, Madrid, España. uxuafloristan@hotmail.com
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Floristán
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Feltes
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ramírez-Marín
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Herranz-Pinto
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003875:Drug Eruptions / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D009061:Mouth Mucosa
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha